The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-25
CATHERINE WOLVES EP1sTLE.
Romance Thrown Into Plain Will by
a Sealed Letter.
From the Nelc York World

S6aIeQ Letter.
From the Nelc York World
The good and benevolent Catherine +.
Wolfe is at rest. Not so are her trustees,
nor her agents, nor the many heirs.
There are three trustees and seventeen
heirs. Her estate, amounting to at least
$50 000,00 probably more, real and per-
sonal must be divided
How shall it be done? That is the ques-
ton which somewhat puzzles the trustees
and even the legal gentlemen who act as
their counsel
At least about $4,000. 900 or $40. 600 600 of
the property Miss Wolfe was possessed of
consisted of real estate, some OF which she
owned in fee, again parcels in which she
only had an interest, property inherited by
her, and also property which she had &C
quired herself-all this creates a tangle,
though there is no disturbance anywhere
Yet May l is rapidly approaching. Some
of her leases are expiring both along
Sixth and Eighth avenues, but neither her
trustees, Messrs Bishop or Bruce, nor her
Old trusted agent, James r. WaterlOw. can
issue the required leases.
Why nots Yesterdays conference of the
trustees, held up town in the presence Of
counsel, gave an insight into this quandary
in which both lessons and lesseeS find them7
selves at this juncture
The will is set down for probate before
the Surrogate for the last week in MAY
This delay is necessitated by the fact that
parties interested now i'll France must be
heard from, not by cable, but in documen-
tary form. There is to be no contest, no
trouble whatever, but the laws memorable
edict as to forms steps in and says halt
PROBATE FIRST IN ORDER.
Yet many persons are anxious to lease or
II
one of the Vanderbilts is reported as having
Offered considerably more than half a
million for her Newport property, but all to
no purpose. Nothing can be done until the
will is probated at the end of May.
More than this. There is a sealed letter
in existence written shortly before her
death by the deceased lady and addressed to
her trustees under the will
This letter has the superscription, Not to
be opened until after the probate Of
the willie. L. W."
That injunction has been sacredly kept
The sealed letter remains intact in the Gus
tody of the trustees counsel.
What does it contain! This is another
question pulling those interested, and in
the meantime all is at skies and sevens
Yet legal talent always knows a way out,
and so it was decided yesterday that, taking
into consideration all the circumstances,
one years leases, but not at any longer
terms could now and will therefore be is
sued.
As to that sealed letter, the trustees are in
the same position as naval officer who in
time of war leaves port with sealed orders,
not knowing his own destination until he is
clear of the coast
AN AIR OF UNCERTAINTY.
After all, Miss Wolfes will was far from
hnif1Cr u ptp, n fapt uffair
That mysterious sealed letter throws an
air Of romance and uncertainty over it all.
No living person knows what it contains
The dead Womans lawyer counsellor, adj
wiser and friend has never read it or been
told its contents. Miss Wolfe wrote ii her
self, from no ones dictatiOn, and had the
lawyer put clause in the viii covering it,
1t may involyeFa..vast sum of money and
it may be a trifiing affair.
Other people have left similar sealed let
ters that contained matters Of great moment.
THE LETTER TRUSTEES.
The letter is addressed to Mr.. David W
Bishop, Mr.. David w. Bruce, Mr.. George
w. Bishop and Mr. Louis L. Lorillard.
YES, there is such a letter." said Mr.. a.
p. Mann, the lawyer who drew the will,
when questioned about it by reporter. Mr.
Mann looked little surprised.
Can you tell me what is in itp
"No; | cannot ! don't know the exact
nature of its contents. Besides, it's none of
the public's business. 1t is a private letter
of Miss Wolfe's to the gentlemen to whom it
is addressed. 1t is not addressed to them as
trustees, but as individuals"
VERY VALUABLE EPIsTLE.
"Many people leave similar letters" he
continued "1'hey take that means of max
ing requests and disposing of property when
II
don't care to have made public When
drew up Peter Lorillard's will [ put in a
similar clause covering a letter in which he
disposed of over 100000"
'Have you any idea of the nature of the
contents of this letter in question"
Eyes: | know there are three items in it
one giving a sum of money, or, rather, sew
eral sums; another leaving jewelry, and an
other clothes
"Who are they left to!"
"All to servants-people who have been in
her employ, and friends. Distant relatives
possibly, though don't like to say that, for
if do would be overwhelmed with letters
of inquiry that | could never answer
"Will the letter be opened before the will
is probated"
IN A CLOUD
Mr.. Mann declined 70 say whether or not
there was a large gift in the letter. From
various circumstances il is fair to presume
there is. Neither did he think there would
be any difficulty about ronting the property
II presume that it is mostly leased now,'
he said.
There are about thirty heirs in all.
"Do YOU think the entire estate will
amount to $50, 900, 0O0@ asked the reporter.
There is no living man who can answer
that question IL may be worth $40 900, 600
or $f50O0,0O0. No inventory has been
TAKEN
A Ruse OF a Rascally Pa 20 Get Rid Of
Dnr4an